Meet Justice Joseph Kipchumba Kigen Katwa, SC, popularly known as Katwa Kigen, one of Kenya’s most seasoned and widely respected lawyers.
He hails from the Keiyo sub-tribe of the Kalenjin community. Katwa Kigen has largely kept his personal life away from the public eye, and as such, details about his age and family are not publicly known. However, available indicators suggest he is in his mid-fifties.
He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of Nairobi, as well as a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
He was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 1996 and has served in the legal profession for over two decades.
For the past 21 years, Katwa has practised law at Katwa & Kembo Advocates, a Nairobi-based law firm he runs with his business partner. His main areas of practice include civil litigation, criminal law, trade and commercial transactions, medical negligence and malpractice and land disputes, among others.
The veteran lawyer has handled matters before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, specialized tribunals, the East African Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Katwa Kigen rose to national and international prominence for his role in representing President William Ruto and journalist Joshua arap Sang at the ICC, where they faced charges related to the 2007/2008 post-election violence. The two were eventually acquitted, with Katwa Kigen playing a key role alongside other counsel, including British lawyer Karim Khan.
He also successfully represented journalist Jacque Maribe in the high-profile murder case involving businesswoman Monica Kimani, who was killed in Nairobi. Maribe was acquitted due to lack of sufficient prosecution evidence in a case that attracted immense public interest.
In addition, Katwa represented former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich in the Sh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer dam corruption case, where Rotich was cleared for lack of sufficient evidence linking him to the alleged offences.
In a landmark human-rights case, Katwa Kigen acted pro bono for victims’ families in the prosecution of serving police officers accused of murdering lawyer Willy Kimani, his client, and their taxi driver after attending court. The incident sparked national and international outrage and became a defining moment in Kenya’s justice system.
In recognition of his exceptional legal expertise and contribution to the profession, President Ruto conferred upon him the rank of Senior Counsel (SC) on 11th December 2025, alongside more than 30 other lawyers. This rank is the highest honour for legal practitioners in Kenya.
More recently, Justice Katwa Kigen was appointed by President Ruto, alongside fourteen others, as a Judge of the Court of Appeal of Kenya, and was sworn into office yesterday.
To qualify as a Court of Appeal Judge in Kenya, one must hold a Bachelor of Laws degree, have at least 10 years of relevant legal experience as a judge, advocate or academic, and demonstrate high moral character and integrity.
The position comes with attractive privileges, including a salary ranging between KSh 780,000 and KSh 1,200,009, as guided by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
A Court of Appeal Judge has a mandatory retirement age of 70, with the option of early retirement at 65.
Given his vast experience and distinguished career, Justice Katwa Kigen was undoubtedly qualified for the role.
Interestingly, despite his remarkable achievements in law, Katwa has previously noted that he initially aspired to become a journalist, a dream that changed after completing secondary education.
A man of few words, but whose impact speaks loudly. With such a decorated CV and the advantage of age and experience, his next destination is undoubtedly the Supreme Court.
Congratulations, Senior Counsel, Hon. Justice Joseph Kipchumba Katwa Kigen.
